Thermostatic circuit-controlling device.



10.84.1044. f PATENTBD MAR. I2, 1907,

L. II'. BRI'IIIQN. 'IHEIIMOS'IAIIG CIRCUIT ooNIIIoLLING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED DED. 10.19 O6.

AI ummm IIIIIIIIHNI LOIIIs H. BRITTON, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

'THERMOSTATIG CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING Specification ofiLetters Patent.

DEVlOE.

Patented Marcil 12, 19o?.

Application 111er] December 10,1906. Serial No. 347,190.

This invention relates to thermostatic circuit-controlling devices.

` A device involving my invention may be employed with utility in various connections, one of which is as a partoi' or in combination with a {ire-alarm system employing a visible Or audible signal, or both. "lhe invention is of such character' that when used in conjunction with such a systemvthe circuit-controller will be 'causedautomatically to close an electric circuit in order to sound a gong or operate 'some other audible signal or to ,light a lamp O roperate some other visible signal-or to secure simultaneously the action of signals of both kinds.

In the drawings accompanying and form-- ing a partxof this specification I show in detail certain effective 'r'orms or" embodiment of the invention, which to enable those skilled in the art to practice said invention will be hereinafter more fully' described. One oi' these forms of embodiment is vadapted especially "to an electrical circuit where the wires are not concealed,` while the other is primarily intended for use in such work where the wires' are concealed or hidden.

The invention is simple in its nature, can be inexpensively and readily produced, and is automatic and instantaneous in its operation.

Referring tO the drawings, Figure 1 -is a sectional elevation of a thermostatic circuit-- controller involvin -my invention. Fig. 2 is I a view showing said thermostatic controller is denoted in a general in elevation and the-wiring associated therewith as concealed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the parts represented in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a top plan View ot' the disk shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view from above of the upper end of a conductor.

Like characters re'er to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The` device includes in its construction a body. This body may be of any suitable character. The body shown in the drawings way by 2, and is repor' inverted-T form. rIhis resented as bein .body when the evice is used in a dre-alarm may be visible exteriorly t system may be mounted in any desirable way, and as to this point it is not necessary to go into detail, for the same does not concern the invention. This body 2 I prefer to make of some non-conducting material, such as hard rubber, iber, porcelain, glass, or the like. A passage, tending entirely throuvh the horizontal portion O' said T-shape body, and into the same are iitted two contacts, as 4, which may be of any desirable character, but which are represented as consisting of screws, which are tapped into the horizontal. portion of said body. The inner ends of these contacts or screws 4 are shown as separated, the s ace between thetwo bein normally open. lhis space, however, as wi adapted to b'efilled or suitable conducting flui as mercury. When this latter operation takes place, such substance bridges electrically the space between the two contacts 4, so as to provide for the passage of an electric current from one contact to the other. The contacts 4, as stated, are represented as consisting ofi-screws, an

to the heads thereof are fastened in any desirable way clips, as 5, between the branches of which bared portions f wires or similar conductors, as 6, can be thrust, the clips holdin such wires or conductors in operative re ation with the device. The vertical portion of the T-shaped .body and which artly filled by some when the, device is in use stands upright has' a passage, as 7, in communication with the passage 3. The neck connecting these two passages 3 and 7 is of less diameter than the diameter of the said passages, so as to provide within the body 2 an annular shoulder 8, the function of which will be hereinafter ex plained.

'I have shown as set into the passage 7 Jfrom the upper open side thereof a tube, as 9, and this tube may be made from an d sirable substance, such as glass or meta an lass', in order that the mercury or e ivaent substance normally u held in sai 4tube ereo. The particular material, however, from which said tube 9 is formed is not a matter of any con-l sequence. There is formed in the tube 9 at some convenient place an opening. In the present case this opening is formed in the eplex of the tube and is designated by 10.-

ere is preferably between t e tube 9 and body 2 and between the contacts 4 and said body an air-sealed relation in order to aid in as 3, is represented as ex.

hereinalj'ter appear, is'

maintaining a vacuum .in saidbody, which subserves an important function, in that it preventsfunder normal conditions lthe dropping of a column of mercury in the tube 9.

his vacuum is normally maintained by a seal, as 11, which is adapted to close the opening and which may be of any desirable fusible material-suc for example, as parafin or some metallic alloy. The seallll is normally prevented from droppin l1 y a shoulder, as 12, in the tube 9, an which may be produced ly contracting the tube below its top. The tube itself may be sustained by an annular shoulder 8, to which I have hereinbefore referred, and may be narrowed or inwardly tapered at its base or lower end to prevent accidental dropping of 'the mercury situated immediately below the seal 11. This seal, as will be understood, maybe of any desirable nature. It may be of such a character that when placed in one room it will melt or fuse at one temperature and when placed in another room will melt or fuse at a different temperature, which may be. either higher or lower than the firstmentioned temperature. Under normal conditions therefore the space between the inner ends of the two contacts 4 will be open and the mercury 13 will be in the upper part of the tube 9, where it is held by virtue of the vacuum Within thedevice, and the vacuum is maintained by the seal 11. It will be assumed that this seal -11 has been fused by a fire. The instant that the seal is fused the opening 10 is uncovered, so as to destroy the vacuum within the device and permit the mercury by gravity or automatically to enter the space betweenthe contacts 4. This mercury, therefore/'when it drops serves to bridge the normally open space between said contacts 4 to provide an electrical connection therebetween and to naturally close the circuit of which the device forms a part. I

prefer to coat or cover the inner ends of said contacts with some conduct-ing substance for which mercuryhas a great ailinity in order to secure the quickest possible action of the device. 1-l

I have described in detail one form of embodiment of my invention. ous other ways in which said invention may be carried into effect within the scope of my claims. For example, it is not necessary that I should employ a T-shaped body 2, nor is it necessary that I utilize, screws, as 4, for

-"contacts, nor the particular means shown- 'adapte other details may that is, the cli s 5 for connecting the wires 6 electrically Wit said contacts-for these and be considerably modified within the scope of myinvention.

In Fi s. 2, 3, and 4 I show a construction especially for use in wiring wherethe latter is to be concealed, and in connection with the 4 to employ a disk, as 14, of some suitable non- There are varipair of contacts,

deviceshown fully in Fig. 2 I prefer conducting material-as, for'example, porcelain or vulcanized 'rubb er-and which is held to a ceiling, wall, or other structure by a suitable fastening, as a screw 15, which is passed throu h a central perforation in said disk and w ich is threaded into said ceilin The contacts of the device shown in sai Fig; 2 are denoted ly 4', and from the same extend conductors, as 16, which constitute sup orting-lrackets for the T- shaped bo y 2. These conductors 16 are united at their lower or outer ends in any desirable 'way with the contacts 4, which, it is to be understood, are equivalents of the contacts 4, hereinbefore described. The upper ends of these ,conductors 16 are electrically connected with screws, as 17, which in the upper face of the disk 14 and extending diametrically of said disk'. The c-lips 8 are for the purpose of receiving Wires 19 located aliove or within the ceiling,`said wires 19 being assed through openings in said ceiling to t e clips 18. The upper surface of the disk 14 has eoncavities, as 20, into which the two wires 19 can be led for passage between the branches of said clips 18, and when said wires 19 are enteredbetween the branches of said clips 18 the screws 17, which are tapped in the upper branches of said clips, are set up, so as tocause the clips to tightly embrace the Wires and vto firmly mount the bod 2 in position. The upper ends of, the con uctor -16 may have open-ended slots 16l to receive the screws 17', so that when it becomes necessary to separate the conductors from the screws it is only necessary to slight] loosen the screws and slip the conductors fiom off the screws.

From what h as been hereinbefore stated it will be apparent that my device has a pair of contacts, a vacuum-chamber,- an air-opening, a fusible seal for said aireopening, a body of conducting material normally out of coperativerelation with said contacts by said vacuum and releasable by the breaking thereof on the fusion of said seal A,

andmovable at such time' into elect-rically connect said contacts. What I claim isposition to turn are electrically connected wlth clips, as 1.8, set 1n grooves 1n maintained- 1. A device of the class described having a IOC IIC'

pair of contacts, a vacuum-chamber, an airopening, a fusible seal for closing said opening to normally preserve the vacuum in said f vacuum-chamber, a body of conducting ma- `terial normally maintained out .of coperative. relation with said contacts by said vacu. fum and releasable by the breaking thereof on the fusion of said seal and movable at such time into position to electrically c onnect said contacts.

2. Adevi'ceof the class described having a opening, a fusible seal for said air-ope and a body of mercury normally upheld out a vacuum-chamber," an air- Said vacuum and releasable by the breakin gf i said chamber, and a 'ro of coperative relation with said contacts bytherecf on the fusion of said seal and mov- ,able by gravity into 'electrical connection with said contacts. A K

3. A device of the class described having a air of contacts, a vacuum-chamber, a fusible seal to normally preserve the vacuum in ody of conducting material normally maintained outof coperative relation with said contacts by said vacuum and releasable by the breaking thereof on the fusion of said seal and movable when released into position to electrically connect' said contacts.

'4'. A device of the class described, comprising a body having a vacuum-space, a pair of-co'ntacts fitted in said body and separatedl l lby said space, a tube-rising from said lbodyandcontaining a conducting substance normallyupheld therein by the vacuum, and a,

fusible seal in connection with they tube for normally maintaining the vacuum, said seal when fused causing the destruction of said vacuum and releasing said conducting substance, and the lattervwhen released being movable into the space between said contacts and serving to electrically bridge theI sam . 5. A device of the' class described having a body and a vacuum-space, contacts fitted in said body and separated by said space, a tube fitted to the body, rising therefrom and inl communication with said space, a body of mercury normally upheld in said tube by the vacuum in said space, said tube having an air-opening, and a' fusible seal in the tube normally closing said opening to maintain the fvacuum, the seal when fused serving to break said vacuum and thereby release the mercury to permit thelatter to flow into the space between the contacts to electrically connect the latter.

6. A device ofthe class described, having a T-s'liaped body, the ortions of which are 'horizontally and vertically disposed respectively, and are rovided with passages, contacts iitted in t e passage in the horizontal portion and separated from each other byv a vacuum-space, a tube fitted in the passage of* `the verticalportion, a body vof mercury contained. in' said tube .and normally upheld by the vacuum, said tube having au air-opening,

and a seal in the tube for normally closing said opening and thus preserving the vacuum, said seal when fused causing the destruction of the vacuum and the release of the mercury, whereby the latter can gravitate into said space to electrically connect said contacts.' l

7. vA device of the class described having a T-shaped body, the portions of which are Vhorizontally and vertically disposed respectively, and are provided with passages, contacts fitted in the passage in the horizontal portionand separated from each other by a vacuum-space, a tube fitted in the passage of y the vertical rtion, a body of mercury contained in. said tube and normali upheld by the vacuum, aseal in the tube or normally 'closingsaid opening and thus preserving the vacuum, said-seal when 'fused causing the destruction of the vacuum and` the release of `the mercury, whereby the latter can gravitate into said space to electrically connect said contacts, and said tube having means ssy for' preventing the accidental dropping of said seal.

8. A device of theclass described having a. I

T'shaped body, the portions of`which are horizontally and vertically disposed, and are provided with passages extending through the same', the body having interiorlythereof` at the junction between said passages a shoulder, a. tube fitted in the passa e of the vertical portion and resting on sai shoulder, said tube being narrowed at its base, ha 0 an opening in .its apex, and an internal shou der between its ends, a seal upheld by said internal shoulder., closing said opening and of fusible material, and a body of mercuryin the tube between the seal and base. In testimony whereof I have my hand in nes'ses.

hereunto ,set

Louis ii. BRiTToN.-

Witnesses:

JOHN LEE, FRED J. LEOPOLD.

presence of two subscribing wit-` 

